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A HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE

2019 Men's Soccer: Golden Eagles had an Excellent and Historic Run

Originally posted on lagoldeneagles.com

LOS ANGELES -- The California Collegiate Athletic Association is celebrating excellence in September and Cal State LA's 2019 men's soccer team certainly fits the bill.

The Golden Eagles won CCAA and Super Region 4 championships last year on their way to the best season in program history. Cal State LA advanced to the NCAA Division II championship game for the second time in program history and for the first time since 1981. The Golden Eagles set a new program record for winning percentage while going unbeaten through 22 games before ending the season with a 19-1-3 record (.891)

The Golden Eagles were the only team in the nation to carry an undefeated record to the Final Four and Cal State LA, as the top-seed, blanked No. 4 seed Indianapolis in the national semi-finals, 3-0, before falling to Charleston (W.V.) in the championship match, 2-0. Cal State LA finished the season ranked No. 2 in the nation in the United Soccer Coaches rankings, matching the program's highest-ever finish. 

The Golden Eagles were near the top of the nation in several statistical categories. Cal State LA was No. 2 in shutout percentage (.652), No. 2 in goals against average (.418), No. 3 in fewest fouls per game (8.22) and No. 4 in save percentage (.853). They led the CCAA in all four categories.

The Golden Eagles were also the first team to go unbeaten through a CCAA regular-season (10-0-1) since 2007 and the conference mark was also a Cal State LA record with the .955 winning percentage eclipsing the 1983 squad that went 12-0-2 in conference play for a .929 percentage.

The Golden Eagles claimed the seventh CCAA regular-season title in program history and the third under legendary coach Chris Chamides. Since Chamides took over the program, the Golden Eagles have won three regular-season CCAA championships (2011, 2013, 2019), four CCAA Tournament titles (2011, 2013, 2017, 2018), two NCAA West Region titles (2011, 2014) and one NCAA Super Region championship (2019), all in the past eight years.

Cal State LA advances to Super Region 4 finals after PK thriller

Cal State LA had a flair for the dramatic in 2019 with an exciting and thrilling penalty-kick decision over St. Mary's in the Super Region 4 semi-finals in front of an enthusiastic crowd at University Stadium leading a list of incredible moments during the season.

The Golden Eagles had taken a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute after a goal by Carl Solli with assists from Leonardo Nogueira and David Elizaga. That goal stood up until the 63rd minute when St. Mary's Carlos Blasco rifled a shot from well outside the box just inside the near post to even things up. It stunned a vocal crowd who urged on the Golden Eagles throughout the evening.

Cal State LA had plenty of close calls, but couldn't quite get a second goal, sending the game into a penalty-kick shootout.

In the shootout, Cal State LA went first and Tim Klefisch knocked his in to make it 1-0. Then, after Brems made a big save on the Rattlers' first try, Morten Bjoershol, Carlos Zarate, Carl Solli and Jesper Evensen made their attempts to send the Golden Eagles to the next round. Click HERE for full game recap.

Cal State LA comes up big in Super Region 4 championship match

That decision sent the Golden Eagles to the Super Region 4 title game where the Golden Eagles beat fellow CCAA competitor Cal State San Bernardino for the trip to the national semi-finals. Goals by Tim Klefisch and Robin Lindahl staked Cal State LA to a 2-0 first-half lead and the Golden Eagles maintained their advantage for a trip to the Final Four. Click HERE for full game recap.

During the regular season, the Golden Eagles had several thrilling endings to keep their unbeaten string alive.

Golden Eagles Give Chamides His 200th Win In Dramatic Fashion

The first was a 3-2 win in double overtime over Biola that also served as Coach Chamides' 200th win as the Golden Eagles' men's soccer head coach. After letting a 2-0 lead get away, the Golden Eagles got a game-winning goal from David Elizaga in the second extra period. Click HERE for full game recap.

Golden Eagles Edge Seawolves In Overtime Thriller

The Golden Eagles found some more extra-time magic, this time from Tim Klefisch and won their ninth-straight game, a tough 1-0 overtime decision over Sonoma State. Click HERE for full game recap.

Golden Eagles Grab Control Of Conference Race With A Big Week On The Road

Cal State LA had a sensational week on the road against two top CCAA challengers that wound up being a deciding factor in the conference race. First, Cal State LA rallied from a 1-0 deficit and got a game-tying goal in the 85th minute from Daniel Simonis to earn a 1-1 tie. Click HERE for full game recap. Then, three days later, the Golden Eagles got a dramatic game-winning goal from Leonardo Nogueira in a 1-0 overtime victory over Cal Poly Pomona on Oct. 20. Click HERE for full game recap.

The win over Cal Poly Pomona lifted the Golden Eagles into sole possession of first place in the conference with a 5-0-1 record and Cal State LA posted shutout wins in its next four games before wrapping up the conference title with a 2-1 win at Humboldt State on Nov. 9.

The Golden Eagles were ranked No. 3 in the nation entering the NCAA playoffs and seeded No. 2 in the Super Region 4. After beating Midwestern State, 3-0, in a second-round match to complete the first weekend of tournament play, Cal State LA also earned the right to host the second week after No. 1 seed Azusa Pacific was upset in its second-round match. The Golden Eagles took advantage of their home-field advantage and advanced past St. Mary's and beat Cal State San Bernardino to reach the Final Four.

As the lone unbeaten team remaining in the nation, the Golden Eagles earned the No. 1 seed at the Final Four and beat No. 4 seed University of Indianapolis, 3-0, in a national semi-final match before falling to Charleston (W.V.) in the national title game.

As you might expect, the Golden Eagles cleanup up during the post-season awards season. Alexander Brems was named the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Player of the Year and the CCAA Male Athlete of the Year. Brems, Morten Bjoershol and David Elizaga earned All-America awards, Brems, Bjoershol, Elizaga, Tim Klefisch and Antonio Rosas earned All-West Region honors and Brems, Bjoershol, Elizaga, Klefisch, Rosas, Robin Lindahl, Daniel Simonis and Carlos Zarate received All-CCAA recognition.

Bjoershol was named the CCAA Defender of the Year, Brems was named the CCAA Goalkeeper of the Year and Chris Chamides was named the CCAA Coach of the Year.

Golden Eagles Show Track & Field Excellence

Originally posted on lagoldeneagles.com

LOS ANGELES -- When Khallifah Rosser sped to the 2016 NCAA Division II national championship in the 400-meter hurdles, he added to an impressive list of excellence for Cal State LA's track and field programs.

Rosser claimed the 21st NCAA Division II individual title for Cal State LA's men's outdoor track and field program, which is No. 9 all-time. The victory was the 28th overall, including a pair of NCAA Division I national titles (one indoor and one outdoor) from Rainer Stenius in 1966 and five NCAA Division II indoor titles from the 1990s.

For a list of men's track and field individual champions, click HERE. Cal State LA captured a men's team national championship in 1978.

The women's program has a total of 18 NCAA Division II individual outdoor titles, which is No. 9 all-time and 16 NCAA Division II indoor titles, which is No. 7 all-time. Cal State LA also has three NCAA Division I outdoor titles as well for a total of 37 overall. Cal State LA also claimed 12 individual AIAW championships prior to NCAA competition for a total of 49 individual titles in women's track and field.

For a list of women's track and field individual champions, click HERE.

The grand total? A combined 60 individual NCAA Division II titles and 77 overall.

Excellent, indeed.

Rosser was one of the most dominant athletes in Cal State LA history. He crushed the competition at the 2016 NCAA Championships with a time of 49.04 that is No. 4 all-time in NCAA Division II history. He joined Sam Turner, who won national titles in 1977, 1978 and 1980 and Gordon Bugg, who won a national title in 1985 as 400-meter hurdles champions from Cal State LA. Rosser entered the championships with the No. 1 time in the country, the took lead early in the championship race and maintained a healthy lead to the tape.

Rosser enjoyed a tremendous 2016 season, his first with the program. In addition to winning the national title in the 400 hurdles, he also set a new school mark in the 400 with a time of 45.74 and set a new Jesse Owens Track record and a CCAA record of 50.19 while winning the conference 400 hurdles championship. He was named the West Region Track Athlete of the Year and the CCAA Track Athlete of the Year and had the team's best marks in the 400 (45.74), 400 hurdles and 800 (1:52.04). He still holds the school record in the 400 and 400 hurdles.

For a recap of his championship day, click HERE.

Rosser completed his career at Cal State LA in 2018 as a two-time winner of the Frank J. Candida Award and a three-time All-American. He also earned nine All-West Region honors and won six California Collegiate Athletic Association championships. He competed well in the 2016 Olympic Trials, advancing to the semi-finals and missing a spot in the final by one. He excelled at the 2018 USA Track and Field Championships, where he placed third in the finals and he finished second in his first two heats of the 2019 USA Track and Field Championships before finishing seventh in the finals. 

He is expected to be a top contender in the 400 hurdles in the next Olympic Trials.

Rosser's dominance in the 400 hurdles and reminiscent of a run to a 2011 national championship by Josh Como in the triple jump in 2011.

Como had a remarkable two-year career at Cal State LA and was No. 1 in the nation in each of his two seasons with the program. He placed second in the 2010 NCAA Championships, but returned in 2011 and won the championship by more than two feet. He holds the program record with a mark of 54-8 that is No. 3 all-time for NCAA Division II.

Como was joined in the winner's circle in the 2011 championships by Giorgio Bryant, who stunned the field with a tremendous national title in the long jump. Bryant, who was seeded No. 2 in the event, soared 26-1.50 on his first jump and held the lead throughout, toppling a two-time defending national champion in the process.

Como earned four All-America awards during his career and also was named the West Region Field Athlete of the Year twice. He won back-to-back CCAA triple jump titles and earned a total of hree conference titles and six all-conference awards. He was also a two-time Frank J. Candida award winner as Cal State LA's top male athlete. He shared that honor in 2011 with Bryant.

For a recap of his championship day, click HERE.

Another dominant champion in recent years was discus thrower Calista Lyon. She sadly battled injuries through much of her Cal State LA career, but she was unbeatable in 2012 in her first year with the program She won a national championship in the discus and her best mark of 186-7 remains No. 2 all-time at Cal State LA (multiple national champion Janet Hill holds the mark) and No. 7 all-time in NCAA Division II.

Her championship came in a thrilling battle between Lyon, the national leader in the discus entering the meet and Sam Lockhart of Grand Valley State, who was second in the nation entering the championships. Lyon's winning throw of 179-6 edged Lockhart's best of 179-2 by just four inches. Lyon posted her winning effort in her fourth throw.

Lyon was an outstanding student as well and earned the USTFCCCA Outstanding Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She finished her career No. 2 all-time at Cal State LA in the discus and No. 7 in the hammer in outdoor track and field and No. 8 in the weight throw and No. 9 in the shot put in indoor track and field.

For a recap of her championship day, click HERE.